Rising Stars: Meet Sophia Stewart of Wendell, NC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophia Stewart

Hi Sophia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been a dancer since my parents put me in ballet classes when I was five years old. I knew it was my passion when I was nine years old and I started choreographing when I was 12 years old. My love for dance and choreography grew from there. As much as I love performing and connecting with an audience, teaching and choreographing hold a special place in my heart and that is what I am pursuing. In searching for a way to pursue dance that feels completely like me, I found a program that put me in front of managers and agents in different industries. Within that program, I was able to explore other creative outlets I enjoyed like fashion and design. That is how I got a manager and became a model. Now I am continuing to chase my dream of being a dance teacher and choreographer as well as exploring a new industry as a model.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest struggle I have faced is not following a direct path. In the arts and creative world, there are not many “direct” paths. There are other people’s paths and ways they got where they are, but essentially it is up to you to discover your own. This has been a big challenge for me, especially in the dance industry. Many choreographers and teachers start out as professional dancers, but that is not exactly how I want to go about my journey in the industry. There is also the college route which is not for me either. Although I knew from a young age that my path wouldn’t be like others I had seen, it does not make the process of making your own way any easier. However, making your own way is always worth it.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Well, hello, my name is Sophia Stewart and I am a choreographer, dance teacher, dancer, and model. I have studied many styles of dance but my specialties, and favorites, are Hip Hop, Contemporary/ Modern, and Modern Jazz. Throughout my experience in different rooms with professional dancers and choreographers, I have been told that my style is very unique and something many have not seen before. At my studio growing up, I was known to have dance moves that I had improvised named after me and a knack for storytelling. My dancing, choreography, and storytelling comes from my soul. It represents all the things I’m unconscious of, or scared to say, or want to say but have no idea how to. My choreography is a representation of me and the world around me, just like my dancing always has been. One moment that I hold near and dear to my heart is when I presented a solo I had choreographed, in twenty minutes without ever doing it full out. I performed it for two industry professionals for the first time. It was a pretty low-pressure environment, but I was very nervous. Their feedback was reassuring and helpful. I still remember exactly what they said to me, “You can have a future in choreography if you want it.” Since that moment, no matter what challenge I face, I have been 100% sure that this is the thing I am meant to pursue.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I am also a writer and am currently working on a young adult dystopian novel set in Asheville, NC.

Pricing:

• Teaching: $30 an hour
• Any other services depend on the details of the service. Please contact me for accurate pricing.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiamckinleyy/
• Other: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ksdxouxc15szcq93t85oo/h?rlkey=cp96boncre9z1s6xthvq0spm8&st=koqyat2v&dl=0